Owning The Coast

Santa Cruz Vibes Media, LLC
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Business

Owning The Coast is your weekly deep dive into the people, places, and possibilities that make Santa Cruz one of the most inspiring places to live. Hosted by real estate pro Brandi Jones, mortgage and market expert Ryan Buckholdt, and insurance specialist Jerry Seagraves, the show blends their unique expertise with candid conversations and dynamic guests. Each week, you’ll hear stories that go beyond property lines — from navigating the local housing market to discovering hidden trails, tasting the best bites in town, and meeting the entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders shaping the coast. Whether you’re a long-time local, a newcomer, or dreaming about making Santa Cruz home, Owning The Coast offers the insights, inspiration, and insider knowledge you need to thrive in life and living by the sea.

  1. 1d ago

    Cami Corvin: Real Estate, Local Business & the Fight for Capitola’s Future

    Interest rates jump, sellers blink, and suddenly Santa Cruz County looks a lot more like a buyer’s market than anyone expected. We talk through what we’re seeing on the ground, including a burst of new listings paired with even more price reductions, and why that shift changes the way you should negotiate if you’re writing offers right now. We also get honest about the math: when rates land around 7% plus, affordability can feel like a $50,000 swing overnight, even when the house itself did not change.  Then we go deeper on two housing niches that are pulling focus in 2026: condos and mobile homes. Condos are running into tougher loan conditions, bigger reserve expectations, and the ripple effects of inspections and deferred maintenance that show up as higher HOA dues. Mobile homes, meanwhile, keep climbing as buyers chase a monthly payment they can actually live with, especially when land ownership and space rent tell very different stories. If you’re trying to decide what to buy, this part is packed with practical context you can use immediately.  Our guest Cami Corvin of Corvin’s Legal Services brings the heart of the conversation home. As vice president of Think Local First Santa Cruz County, she lays out a realistic approach to supporting small businesses without guilt or purity tests: think local first, then decide, and even 50% local can make a real difference. She also shares why she’s running for Capitola City Council, what “keep Capitola Capitola” means in real planning terms, and the rail trail encroachment fight that pushed her from frustration into action.  If you care about housing, local culture, and what makes Santa Cruz and Capitola feel like home, hit play now, then subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with your take: are you seeing the market shift where you live?

  2. Sep 29

    Joe Heller: Santa Cruz Rentals Without Regrets

    The fastest way to lose money on a “perfect” rental is to assume it works like it did five years ago. With mortgage rates settling into a new normal, Santa Cruz buyers getting pickier, and insurance rules tightening up, we wanted a reality check from someone who lives in the rental trenches every day. We’re joined by Joe Heller of Streamline Property Management, a Santa Cruz County boutique property management company, to talk through what happens after the decision to rent. We dig into the stuff most people miss: how a simple change of use can blow up your landlord insurance, why ADUs can create unexpected policy complexity, and how higher deductibles can lower premiums when you’re truly insuring against catastrophic loss. Joe also shares what he looks for on a property walk-through, from decks and handrails to drainage, crawl spaces, roofs, trees, and the “big M word” that can turn into a lawsuit: mold. We also get practical about tenant screening and California’s tenant-friendly laws, including why sloppy screening can lead to a costly eviction and months of stress. If you’re holding an inherited home, trying to keep a family property, or wondering why Santa Cruz rentals don’t always cash flow, we break down the numbers and the mindset: long-term appreciation, risk management, and clear expectations. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a Santa Cruz homeowner, and leave a review. What’s the biggest question you have about renting out a property right now?

  3. Sep 29

    Zach Velmer: Detaching From The Outcome Makes Better Art

    Santa Cruz doesn’t just change your zip code, it changes your pace. We sit down with Zach Velmer, touring drummer and founding member of STS9, to talk about what pulled him from Atlanta to the California coast and why, after decades of travel, he still comes back to the same conclusion: this is home. We get into the real reasons a place can feel like wealth, from time in nature to culture, community, and the daily chance to live like you’re not waiting for life to start. From there we trace one thread through everything Zach does: flow. He breaks down how drumming, surfing, and golf all punish control and reward listening, tempo, and presence. We talk about reps, discipline, and the moment performance gets better by trying less, plus the “detach from the outcome” mindset that helps entrepreneurs, artists, and anyone carrying money pressure. If you’ve ever tightened up right before a big swing, a big meeting, or a big decision, this conversation gives you language for what’s happening. We also go deep on AI and creativity. Zach shares how he uses AI as a tool to spark ideas without handing over the work, and we explore why the human “first draft” still matters more than ever. Finally, Zach opens up about COVID, identity, and relationships, including the simple phrase that helped his family stay grounded: “Thank you for loving me.” If this hits home, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a reset, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway.

  4. Aug 26

    Hannah Healy: Zero Down And Zero Additives

    Zero down up to $832,000 on an FHA loan gets your attention, but the real twist is where the conversation goes next. We start by talking mortgage rates, two loan programs we’re genuinely excited about, and a practical ADU financing option that lets homeowners tap equity for remodeling or building an accessory dwelling unit. We also tackle a very Santa Cruz reality: non-permitted additions and how lenders and appraisals can treat “workman-like” square footage when a buyer is trying to understand what a home is really worth. Then the ADU story takes a hard turn into insurance. We get into what changed for ADU coverage, why some carriers no longer treat ADUs with kitchens as a simple add-on, and how quickly one policy can become two, or more, especially when the FAIR Plan enters the chat. If you’re building an ADU to rent, this segment is a must-listen because monthly costs can shift overnight. After that, we’re joined by Hannah Healy, co-founder and co-owner of Apero Club, Santa Cruz’s natural wine bottle shop and bar. Hannah explains what natural wine actually means, why conventional wine often relies on additives and heavy sulfites (SO2), and why alcohol ingredient transparency is still weirdly absent. We talk pet nat sparkling wine, orange wine, and why natural wine can taste “funky” in the best way. Hannah also shares how motherhood reshaped her space into a place where people can actually hang out, kids included, and how her team sells wine through tasting, curiosity, and story. If you like conversations about Santa Cruz real estate, ADUs, insurance, natural wine, low intervention winemaking, and what “healthier drinking” really means, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

  5. Aug 10

    Ethan Estess: What We Build. What We Protect.

    ADUs, insurance, and mortgages sound like separate topics until a deal falls apart and you realize they are chained together. We start with what we’re seeing right now in Santa Cruz County: attached ADUs that insurers do not want, roof age and replacement cost rules that keep tightening, and the brutal reality that if you cannot secure homeowners insurance, you often cannot secure the loan. Housing policy may encourage added units, but underwriting, affordability, and timelines decide what actually gets built and bought.  From there, we sit down with Santa Cruz native Ethan Estess, a Stanford-trained marine scientist who turned toward art to tell bigger ocean stories. Ethan shares how surf culture shaped his life, how great white shark research and Monterey Bay Aquarium work gave him a front-row seat to ocean change, and why a scientific paper can feel small compared to art that reaches people emotionally. His work uses retired fishing rope and marine debris, including material collected from Hawaii, to create seascapes that are beautiful at first glance and unsettling once you realize what they are made of.  We also dig into the local economy of the ocean: surf tourism, the “Blue Mind” effect of the horizon, and why protecting coastlines is both environmental and economic policy. Ethan breaks down what smart conservation looks like, why some marine protected area proposals backfire when they ignore local science and community input, and how groups like Save the Waves and All Waters push for credible, workable solutions. We wrap with practical hope: circular economy wins like recycled fishing nets, extended producer responsibility for plastics, and a sober take on climate change that focuses on the choices we are still making.  If you got value from this, subscribe, share this with a Santa Cruz neighbor, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What local issue are you willing to show up for next?

  6. Jul 14

    Max Turigliatto: Building A Speakeasy In Santa Cruz

    You’ve probably heard someone say, “Santa Cruz needed a place like that.” We finally get to unpack what “that” actually means with Max Turigliatto, the Santa Cruz native behind Alley Oop, a speakeasy-inspired cocktail lounge built for real date nights, live music, and a room that feels like you could be anywhere in the world while still being unmistakably local. From the moment you step into the alley and the door opens, Max is obsessed with the details that shape a night out: lighting, sound, temperature, pacing, and hospitality that feels warm instead of performative.  We also get practical about what it takes to open a small business in downtown Santa Cruz. Max shares how keeping a day job (he sells lumber at Big Creek) gave him the freedom to play the long game without squeezing the business for quick owner payouts. We talk investor alignment, turning down “bad money,” and why the best backers are the ones who believe in the vision, show up, and treat the project like a collaboration. If you’re building a restaurant, cocktail bar, or any local brand, this is a real-world look at risk, patience, and staying transparent when the stakes get high.  Then we zoom out to the bigger Santa Cruz story: housing mandates, rapid development, post-fire rebuilding frustration, and the fear of turning into Anywhere, USA. Max makes the case that local creators can shape what comes next by building spaces with integrity, fair pricing, and culture-first choices, like elevated mocktails, a tight shared-plates menu, and a serious live music program fueled by the Kumbha connection and a vintage baby grand piano.  If you care about Santa Cruz nightlife, cocktail culture, small business strategy, and the future of downtown, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a better date-night spot, and leave us a review with your take: what should Santa Cruz become next?

  7. Jul 10

    Tricia Mogensen and Jenny Keck: Branding That Actually Scales

    Insurance, mortgages, real estate, branding, and marketing all collide in one very real problem: the details you ignore are the ones that cost you the deal or stall your growth. We start with what’s happening on the ground right now, a flood of homeowners insurance quote requests and the growing chaos behind the scenes. When roof age, plumbing updates, and electrical details get entered wrong, buyers can lose the house they thought they had. Even flood insurance gets misunderstood fast, especially when someone shows up with a confident AI generated message that doesn’t match the property. Then we bring on Tricia Mogensen and Jenny Keck, the Santa Cruz creative duo behind Opposite of East, to unpack how strong brands are actually built. They share how their studio uses brand strategy, consulting, design, photography, and website direction to create work that looks different for every client. Their “chameleon” approach is the opposite of cookie cutter marketing, and it’s rooted in one idea: humans connect with humans, so your business has to feel like a person with a point of view. We also get honest about the hardest part for founders: scaling. Word of mouth can build a business, but it rarely builds systems. We talk marketing budgets (often 5% to 10% of gross revenue), why strategy keeps inspiration focused, and what to do when you’re too busy to market at all. Sometimes the right move is retention marketing and hiring marketing, not more leads. If you’re building a founder led business in Santa Cruz or anywhere else, this is a practical listen with real examples and plenty of hard earned clarity. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a business owner who needs structure, and leave a review if the ideas help you grow.

  8. Jul 10

    Reggie Trimingham: Real Estate Video That Sells

    If you’ve ever wondered why some real estate videos make you lean in while others feel like a slideshow with music, this conversation nails the difference. We sit down with Reggie Trimingham from LocalShot, a Santa Cruz-based real estate videographer and marketer who’s built a reputation for making homes feel cinematic without losing the point: helping buyers and clients trust what they’re seeing.  We get into the real process behind a great listing video, from figuring out whether you’re optimizing for YouTube search or Instagram scrolling to shaping a vibe that matches an agent’s brand. Reggie breaks down what’s actually working now in YouTube SEO, why transcripts and retention matter more than tags, and how thumbnails can decide whether anyone clicks at all. We also talk about why “going viral” is often the wrong goal for local real estate marketing and what to focus on instead.  Then we go deep on AI in marketing, including the real-world frustration of AI hype fatigue and the practical ways these tools can still help with editing, transcription, admin, and scaling a small business. Along the way, Reggie shares how cycling and travel shaped his creativity, including a months-long bike trip across Japan that reset how he thinks about work and life.  If you care about real estate marketing, video production, personal branding, and the future of AI-powered content, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend in the industry, and leave us a review with your biggest question about real estate video.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Owning The Coast is your weekly deep dive into the people, places, and possibilities that make Santa Cruz one of the most inspiring places to live. Hosted by real estate pro Brandi Jones, mortgage and market expert Ryan Buckholdt, and insurance specialist Jerry Seagraves, the show blends their unique expertise with candid conversations and dynamic guests. Each week, you’ll hear stories that go beyond property lines — from navigating the local housing market to discovering hidden trails, tasting the best bites in town, and meeting the entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders shaping the coast. Whether you’re a long-time local, a newcomer, or dreaming about making Santa Cruz home, Owning The Coast offers the insights, inspiration, and insider knowledge you need to thrive in life and living by the sea.

Information

  • Creator
    Santa Cruz Vibes Media, LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Owning The Coast
  • Show Website
    Owning The Coast